Next step, filing our public notices, convening a meeting, appointing a Board of Directors/Officers and adopting bylaws, as a prelude to registering as a charity in Pennsylvania and obtaining an exemption from federal income tax as a 501(c)(3) tax exempt charity from the IRS.

superheater

Post subject: Re: The Iron Horse Society at Steamtown Incorporated

Posted: Tue Sep 08, 2015 4:34 pm

Joined: Sun Aug 22, 2004 11:54 pmPosts: 1821

Our second legally required public notice. Now officially a Pennsylvania domestic non-profit corporation.

The Incorporators are now in the process of fixing a meeting date to appoint an initial Board of Directors and it looks like this will occur in late October. There is a core group of individuals willing to serve as directors that have varied backgrounds, but with heavy emphasis in business. Almost all have some background in railroad operations. The group is actively seeking individuals with legal, grantwriting/fundraising and with connections to tourism.

The following is being released:

Thank you for expressing interest in the Iron Horse Society at Steamtown. We will add your contact information to our mailing list.

The goal of the society is to support Steamtown National Historic Site’s mission of preserving historic railroading in North America and to provide educational and operational experiences to expand knowledge and appreciation of the history, culture, and societal impact of the railroad industry of North America.

The society is in its infant stages as we have recently been incorporated in the state of Pennsylvania. Founding members will be meeting shortly to establish an initial board of directors and approve the organization by-laws. Once complete, we will be proceeding with our application for 501c3 status.

We will be reaching out to the mailing list and other potential members to learn more about individual skills and suggested project ideas & activities for the Iron Horse Society

Thank you,The Iron Horse Society

superheater

Post subject: Re: The Iron Horse Society at Steamtown Incorporated

Posted: Fri Oct 16, 2015 5:00 pm

Joined: Sun Aug 22, 2004 11:54 pmPosts: 1821

An initial meeting of the incorporators, to select a Board of Directors is being planned for Saturday, October 24. Prospective directors have been invited to attend. Once the directors are seated they will have the following items among their agenda.

1.) Vote on bylaws.

2.) Select Officers

3.) Authorize someone to apply for a Federal EIN, which is required to File a form 1023, to receive a Determination Letter as a 501(c)(3) tax exempt charity.

Is there a reason why this thread even exists at this point as everything is still pending?Would have made more sense to have gotten everything into place, then announce you exist and nothing else is needed for things to happen...

_________________Lee Bishop

superheater

Post subject: Re: The Iron Horse Society at Steamtown Incorporated

Posted: Fri Oct 16, 2015 11:06 pm

Joined: Sun Aug 22, 2004 11:54 pmPosts: 1821

The reason for the existence is to document the steps necessary to bring the organization into existence. These things don't pop into existence and everything is NOT pending.

As I write this, the thread has 3767 views. It must be interesting to somebody.

ekrwy2

Post subject: Re: The Iron Horse Society at Steamtown Incorporated

Posted: Sat Oct 17, 2015 12:11 am

Joined: Sat Jul 16, 2011 3:12 pmPosts: 87

Agreed Superheater. I'm learning a lot.

_________________Bret Evanich

Lincoln Penn

Post subject: Re: The Iron Horse Society at Steamtown Incorporated

Posted: Sat Oct 17, 2015 12:17 am

Joined: Wed Feb 02, 2011 9:40 pmPosts: 794

Considering how many different parties have tried to start organizations for various parties and what has been revealed on RyPN in many past threads, I agree, this series is very valuable to those just starting out.

Scranton Yard

Post subject: Re: The Iron Horse Society at Steamtown Incorporated

Posted: Sat Oct 17, 2015 12:54 pm

Joined: Thu Feb 27, 2014 10:08 amPosts: 406

By taking the time to post to this thread and document the steps that are being taken to establish their organization, Superheater and his colleagues are providing a great service to the preservation community. The thread:

1. Provides a step-by-step guide for anyone who loves preservation and is interested in forming a similar non-profit preservation group. It is certainly an easier and quicker read than a NOLO book. IHS is an aspiring non-profit that is fulfilling its duty as an organization that is educational in nature even before it files for its non-profit status. Very smart.

2. Establishes the organization’s reputation for transparency and professionalism so that, once all the paperwork is in order, the organization can hit the ground running with less of burden of “proving themselves”. It is just like a “soft opening” of a business establishment.

In the past, the environment in Scranton for volunteer organizations has been challenging, as it is in many places. In a political environment, it is best to establish one’s credentials and build a strong support base as quickly as possible lest the winds shift and a favorable climate becomes less so.

I will glad entertain any thread that talks about working towards a point where people won't complain about Steamtown as much anymore.

_________________Mark Z. YerkesAmateur Rail Historian

robertjohndavis

Post subject: Re: The Iron Horse Society at Steamtown Incorporated

Posted: Sat Oct 17, 2015 8:48 pm

Joined: Mon Aug 23, 2004 8:10 amPosts: 2413

"Damned if you do, damned if you don't," is a truism that never loses its truthiness.

I think being so open about the process is fantastic. As the effort matures, assuming Superheater keeps this thread going, it may become one of the most valuable in the RYPN archives in terms of useful information.

Rob

superheater

Post subject: Re: The Iron Horse Society at Steamtown Incorporated

Posted: Sat Oct 24, 2015 10:50 pm

Joined: Sun Aug 22, 2004 11:54 pmPosts: 1821

The Iron Horse Society at Steamtown is pleased to announce the appointment of directors and officers this evening.

By laws were adopted provisionally,pending legal review. Additionally, a variety of committee assignments were made and among the assignments were two non-director assignments to our Youth Outreach Committee, which will be headed up by two young men who are in their early twenties and social media savvy.

superheater

Post subject: Re: The Iron Horse Society at Steamtown Incorporated

Posted: Mon Oct 26, 2015 3:26 pm

Joined: Sun Aug 22, 2004 11:54 pmPosts: 1821

The Treasurer successfully applied for a a Federal Employer Identification Number today.

For those who are using this as a "how to":

Once your board and officers are appointed, either an officer can apply for the EIN or you can arrange for an authorized third party, (preferably a lawyer,CPA or EA) to apply on your behalf.

Application can be done either using form SS-4, or the online portal. The online portal will correct minor typographical errors, and allows for the creation of the number within a minute or two, along with the creation of the office letter online (pdf format).

Once the letter is created, it must be saved (preferably to multiple locations, since files that don't exist in multiple locations, don't exist at all- hat tip, John I from ELDCPS).

Once the number is created and the notice letter generated save(and print) it, IMMEDIATELY, since the IRS will not recreate the letter for you.

If you are at all uncomfortable with this, either request a paper letter (estimated time of receipt, four weeks) or use the paper form SS-4 to request the EIN and accompanying notice letter.

Once you apply for the EIN, the IRS considers the clock to have started on the 27 month time limit to apply for tax exempt status.

Due to digital foot traffic, we have established a facebook page that is where updates are posted. The short story is that the 1023 was submitted to the IRS on July 13 and received an acknowledgement that the submission was received dated July 30. Assuming that everything is in order, we hope to have a determination letter in hand sometime between mid September and Mid October. If there are errors, omissions or uncertanties in the package, we'll be looking at easy 2017.

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